Washington, D.C. – Senators John Ensign and Harry Reid announced today that the National Defense Authorization Act includes funding for crucial military projects in Nevada. The Senate Armed Services Committee, on which Senator Ensign serves, completed its work on the bill this morning. It now goes to the full Senate for approval.

Ensign, Chairman of the Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee, successfully fought for an amendment that will reform the way defense contracts are awarded by insisting on performance and results before contracts are granted or renewed.

“For too long, the Pentagon has ladled out incentive bonuses to companies that failed to meet required performance standards. The American taxpayers deserve better stewardship of their money,” Ensign said. “I am proud to defend each and every one of the Nevada projects that are being funded by this bill.”

“Our Nevada military men and women are the best-trained and most talented fighting force in the world. The projects in this bill will help make sure we stay that way,” said Reid. “I’m so pleased Senator Ensign and I were able to get these projects approved in the bill. The next step is to get funding in the Military Construction Appropriations Bill and as a member of the Appropriations Committee I will work to try to make sure that happens.”

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 will be presented to the full Senate for consideration later this year. The bill provides almost $68 million dollars for military construction projects located throughout Nevada: